Top nationwide water polo coach discovered lifeless after employees break into resort room
Andrew McGinty, 34, who coached the England and Great Britain water polo squads, was found dead at the Village Hotel in Bury, Greater Manchester, on December 18 last year
Andrew McGinty was tragically discovered at the Village Hotel(Image: ESSA)
A highly esteemed national water polo coach was discovered in a hotel room after he didn’t check out. The body of 34-year-old Andrew McGinty – who coached the England and Great Britain water polo teams – was tragically found at the Village Hotel in Bury, Greater Manchester on 18 December last year.
He had checked in on 16 December and was scheduled to check out two days later. When he didn’t check out, staff broke into his hotel room, which was chained from the inside, and found his body lying on a bed, as previously reported at the opening of an inquest into his death.
A final inquest hearing took place earlier this week at Rochdale Coroner’s Court According to the inquest record, his medical cause of death was ‘suffocation/asphyxiation.’, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Senior Coroner Joanne Kearsley stated that ‘the circumstances of his death indicate he had deliberately ended his life’ as she recorded a conclusion of suicide.
Tributes poured in from numerous organisations following his death. Swim England, the national governing body for swimming in England, issued a statement honouring his work.
England Water Polo described Mr McGinty as ‘much liked’ and said he was ‘a huge influence’ on hundreds of young water polo players in the north west.
“Andy also enjoyed great success coaching several GB/England age-group squads and was a popular figure on the poolside across the country,” the tribute read.
“A key figure in Swim England’s water polo department as well, Andy was one of the main driving forces behind all the recent national programme successes. “
The City of Manchester Water Polo Club (CoM), based at Manchester Aquatics Centre, described Mr McGinty as an ‘integral member for many years’.
Bolton School, where Mr McGinty was a ‘long standing’ coach, expressed that the ‘tragic and unexpected news’ had been a ‘a moment of great sorrow’ for everyone associated with the school.
“Andy’s passion for water polo and commitment to the students he coached was evident in all that he did. He will be greatly missed by all of us here who knew him” they stated.
Mr McGinty, who resided in Higher Blackley, north Manchester, also held the position of water polo head coach at the English Schools’ Swimming Association.
They commented: “Andy’s commitment to the development of School Water Polo for over a decade at Bolton School, as part of the North West Division, with leading and supporting representative teams for ESSA and for the National team, will always be remembered.
“Andy was pivotal in supporting the collaboration between Swim England and English Schools Swimming Association water polo in recent years and will be missed by the whole water polo community.”
